The Finest airplane ferrying in the lower 48

Settle Ferry Group is based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and ferries airplanes to and from airports across the lower 48 states. The base location matters mostly for cost and timing. When an airplane starts at a Dallas-Fort Worth airport, the pilot can reach it without an airline ticket, which keeps that travel out of the quote and makes short-notice trips simpler to arrange. When an airplane starts somewhere else, the pilot travels to it first, usually by airline, and that travel is added to the trip cost. Destinations work the same way in reverse, since the pilot has to get home after delivery. Any public-use airport the airplane can safely operate from is a candidate, whether that is a busy towered field or a small rural strip, subject to runway length, weather and the airplane's performance. For local detail, see the service area pages for Dallas, Fort Worth and the rest of Texas.

Coverage for the pilot comes from your aircraft policy, so the answer depends on its terms, and it is worth confirming before any trip. Most policies handle pilots in one of two ways. Some list named pilots, which means a ferry pilot needs to be added before flying. Others use an open pilot clause, which covers any pilot who meets minimum experience levels such as total hours, hours in make and model, and certain ratings. A ferry pilot has to fit those terms, and meeting them is part of planning the trip rather than something to check at the airport. Ask your agent to confirm in writing that the intended pilot is covered, including for flights on a special flight permit if one is involved. Share the relevant wording when you request a quote. If the policy cannot cover a ferry pilot, the alternative may be flying the airplane yourself with an instructor as insurance transition training.

A friend can be a fine choice, and the questions are the same either way. A ferry service is simply built to answer them. First, insurance: the pilot has to fit your policy's pilot requirements, and a friend who is not current in your make and model may not. Second, experience: a first flight in an unfamiliar airplane over unfamiliar terrain is its own skill, and ferry pilots do it routinely. Third, decisions: a friend doing you a favor may feel pressure to keep your schedule, while a professional is expected to hold for weather without apology. Fourth, accountability: a service quotes the trip, plans it, and answers to you for how it goes. Finally, time: the trip may take more days than a favor comfortably allows. If your friend meets your policy, knows the airplane, and has the time, that can work well. If not, request a quote.